Johan theodob beenadotte sidezt



(No Model.)

J. T.. B. SIDN. SPRING DRAFT 0R TUG LINK.

WITN ESSES ilwtrrnn `*rares Arnnr erica.

JOHAN THEODOR BERNADOTTE SIDN, OF NYBO, WALBO, ASSIGNOR TO AKTIEBOLAGET HASTSKYDDARE, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

SPRING DRAFT OR TUG-LINK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,419, dated February 8, 1887.

Application iiled August- 25, 1886. Serial No. 211,806.

(No model.) Patented in Germany December 25, 1883, No. 29,259; in

Sweden January 529, 1884, No. 18; in Belgium February 7, 1884, No. 64,085; in England February 8, 1884, No. 2,989; in France March 3, 1884, No. 160,926; in Norway May 20, 1884, and in Denmark July 22, 1884, No. 152.

T0 a/ZZ wwm it mag/conceiva- Be it known that l, JOHAN Trrnonon BER- NAnorrE SIDN, a subject of the King of Sweden, and a resident of Nybo, Valbo, Sweden, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Tug-Links or Draft Attachments, (for which invention patents have been granted vin Sweden, No. 18, dated January 29, 1884; in Belgium, No. 64,085, dated February 7, 1884; in Norway, dated November 20,1884; in England, No. 2,989, dated February 8,1884 5 in France, No. 160,926, dated March 3, 1884; in Denmark, No. 152, dated July 22. 1884, and in Germany, No. 29,259, dated .December 25, 1883,) of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to the class of spring tug-links or elastic draft attachments of which that shown in the patent oi' B. F. Rea, No. 175,164, of March 21, 1876, is a type. In this class of tug-links a coil-spring is inserted in the tug or trace, or at some point between the animal and the load, and two interlocked links, arranged within the hollow of the spring, are'employed to limit the distention or extension of the same. In these tug-links the distention of the coil-spring and its contraction cause an axial twist, which produces a certain degree of distortion of the trace or tug and a Charing of the stop-links that serve to limit the degree of distention, and these devices are also lacking in stiffness transversely. In conf structing my tuglink I avoid this difcul ty by employing two coil or spiral springs oppositely wound, one spring arranged within the other, whereby the tendency to 4twist on\ the part of one spring counteracts or neutralizes that in the other. I `also construct my stoplinksiu apeculiar manner, so that they Inutually form guides for eachother and are stii to transverse strains.

In the drawings, which serve to illustrateV my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of `my elastic tuglink; and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing the springs only in section,

' the stop-links being in elevation. Fig. 3 shows the links and tug-connections only, detached and in elevation; and Fig. 4 is a transverse section of said links on linea b in Fig. 8.

A and B represent two elongated coupled links, having a substantially cylindrical cross-I section, as seen in Fig. 4. Link A is furnished with a hook, A', and link Bis furnished with an eye, B. These might both be eyes or both be hooks. lt is only essential that the links be provided at their outer ends with some means whereby the device may be conveniently attached to the harness at one end (usually to the trace) and to the vehicle or load at the other end, (as to the doubletree of a wagon, for example,) and these hooks or eyes may be formed integrally with the respective links or be attached thereto in any way. I prefer them integral, as shown.

On each link is formed a neck or reduced part-C on the link A and C on the link B. These are formed at the outer ends of the links and just beyond the outer ends of the slots in same.

Embracing the cylindrical overlapping portions of the links A and B are two spiral springs, D and E, oppositely wound, and these are contracted at their ends and made to embrace the necks C and C', formed on the links, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The terminal coils of the inner spring, D, closely embrace the links at their necks,while the terminal coils of f the outer spring, E, (which incloses spring D,) embrace the links and the coils of the inner spring.

When one link, as B, is attached to a heavy load, and power is applied to the hook A of link A, the springs D and E will be distended, the links sliding out on each other somewhat telescopically, and this extension of the springs will continue until the tension of the springs is sufficient to overcome the load, or until the 4end bars of the links engage, which engagement serves as a stop to prevent further eX- tension or the breaking of the springs by super-extension. The lengths of the slotlike openings in the links will of course govern the maximum extension of the springs. As before intimated, when the'spring of draft-tug is distended longitudinally, it tends to contract transversely and coil up tighter, and this of course tends to impart an axial twist to the two stop-links attached to its op positie ends. rlhis twist is entirely obviated in my tug by employing two springs, one inclosed within the other, and said springs oppositely wound or coiled. This construction enables me to construct the stop-links, as shown, so as to serve mutually as guides for each other when the springs are distended. The bars of the links t to each other somewhat in the manner of staves in a cask, the contiguous faces being beveled, as clearly seen in Fig. 4. In such a construction the links slide reciprocally on each other, and there is little or no playin any other than a longitudinal direction-that is to say, my two stoplinks are not simply engaged like two loose l links of a chain, they do not permit of any lateral or transversellexure, and as the springs are connected rigidly to the necks of the stoplinks, the Said links prevent lateral lexure of the springs also.

My spring-tug is practically stiff with respect to transverse strains, and is exceedingly strong and durable.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. The combination, in a spring draft-tug, of two interlocked links to form stops to limit the extension, two hooks or other attaching devices connected to said links, and two spiral Springs, one embracing the other and wound in opposite directions, said springs inclosing said links and secured at their ends to Sad hooks or other attaching devices.

2. The combination, iu a spring drafttug, ofthe two oppositely-wound springs D and E, the interlocked links, and the two attaching hooks or devices Aand B, said devices being connected firmly to said springs and formed integrally, respectively, with the said links.

3. The combination of the link A, provided with a neck, C, and a hook, A', the link B, interloeked with link A and provided with a neck, C', and an eye, B', and the oppositelycoiled springs D and E, embracing said links, and attached at one end to the link A and at the other end to the link B, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination,with the two oppositely coiled springs, of the two interlocked stoplinks, connected together, as described, to form reciprocal guides for each other and to avoid lateral flexure, said springs attached firmly to said links and embracing or housing same, substantially as set forth.

ln witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JO'HA\T THEODOR BERNADOTTE SIDN.

lvVitnesses':

Jon. BERGGREN, K. R. KERRNER. 

